cover image Lipstick Hustla

Lipstick Hustla

Allison Hobbs, Atria/Strebor, $15 paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-59309-282-5

The final chapter in the over-the-top life of Philly madam Misty (after Big Juicy Lips) is a banging nightmare of hos, hotties, and outrageous negotiations. Still smarting from her partner/lover Brick leaving her for her mother (who has a son with him), Misty rebuilds her escort service by stealing young talent from a "modeling agency" run by a gay former model. Her business takes off, and soon her heavy involvement with megalomaniac rappers—first, with Spydah, then Smash Hitz—leads to a smackdown. Unfortunately, Hobbs depicts Misty as so unbelievably obnoxious and single-minded that it's difficult to care about her pursuit of bling, paper, and men. Of course, it's another thing to be entertained by how overblown all of it is. (Oct.)